Description
Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, these potato-crusted chicken tenders offer a delicious twist on classic chicken strips with a uniquely satisfying crunch from instant mashed potato coating.
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ cup vegetable oil for frying
- 1 ½ cups milk
- 1 egg
- 1 (7.6 ounce) package garlic flavored instant mashed potatoes
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
- 1 ½ pounds chicken tenders
Instructions
- Prepare the Cooking Station: Heat ½ cup vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat until it reaches approximately 350°F (175°C). You want the oil hot enough to create a sizzle when the chicken is added, but not so hot that it burns the coating before cooking the chicken through.
- Create Dipping Stations: In a shallow bowl, beat together 1½ cups milk and 1 egg until well combined to create your wet dipping station. In another shallow bowl, thoroughly mix the garlic flavored instant mashed potatoes with 2 teaspoons salt and 2 teaspoons black pepper to create your dry coating station.
- Coat the Chicken: Dip each chicken tender into the milk and egg mixture, ensuring it’s fully coated. Allow excess liquid to drip off, then thoroughly dredge in the seasoned potato flake mixture, pressing gently to adhere the coating to all sides of the chicken.
- Fry to Perfection: Carefully place the coated chicken tenders in the hot oil, being careful not to overcrowd the pan (work in batches if necessary). Cook until golden brown and crispy on all sides, approximately 7-10 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Drain and Serve: Once cooked, transfer the chicken tenders to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil. Allow them to rest for 2-3 minutes before serving to maintain maximum crispiness.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, you can double-dip the chicken: coat in egg mixture, then potato flakes, then back in egg mixture, and finally in potato flakes again.
- The instant mashed potato coating can be customized with additional herbs or spices like paprika, garlic powder, or Italian seasoning.
- For a healthier version, these can be baked at 400°F (200°C) for 15-20 minutes on a lightly oiled baking sheet.
- Serve with dipping sauces like ranch, honey mustard, or barbecue sauce for added flavor variety.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main-course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3-4 tenders
- Calories: 425
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 115mg